SRM PC8 & non-SRM powermeters - How does it do with them?

Triathlon Forum
1

How does the PC8 work with non SRM powermeters?

I’m a little fuzzy on the details but, if my memory serves, SRM powermeters transmit a different signal than other powermeters, in that they send a torque number that the PC8 combines with the pedal cadence to determine and display the power output. Have I got that right?

And I also believe that other powermeters like Stages and Shimano transmit actual power numbers with the torque and cadence used within the powermeter to determine the power number that is then transmitted for a head unit to pick up - do I have that right?

So I am wondering how the PC8 treats third party powermeters to display the correct power.

And SRM powermeters require that a slope be entered into the PC8 to properly calculate the power from the torque and date numbers the SRM PM transmits. Does that not need to be done with 3rd party powermeters because that slope input is already baked into the power number those powermeters transmit to the head unit?

When using a non-SRM powermeter, does the PC8 know to just look for a transmitted power number and report that?

I am thinking of a new PM and I’m looking at the SRM Origin in addition to the Shimano DA 9200 and the new Stages LR 9200 powermeters. I know the Origin will be rock solid and will be dead simple to use but I’d like to stick with a native Shimano crankset to maximize the shifting and minimize any issues with chain line and such. I’ve been using SRM PMs based around the Shimano 7800 crankset (7800, 7900 and the DA9000 model I have now - all based on that 7800 crankset) for almost 20 years and the cranks have been bomb proof. I don’t know if I want to get into anything other than Shimano on that front.

Also, I don’t want to give up my PC8. It’s dead simple and it’s super reliable and it does everything that I want.

Thanks in advance for any answers.

2

A SRM PC8 works together with every ANT+ powermeter. I tested my PC8 with SRM, P2Max, Rotor 2InPower, Powertap G3, Assioma and Quark powermeters, it works with any of them.

There are several ANT+ protocols by which powermeters communicate with a computer, a PC8 understands all these protocols / dialects.

3

My PC8 has worked perfectly with a Hammer, an H3, and two 4iiiis. It’s not a problem.

The only thing I regret about it is that it won’t support radar.

4

How does the PC8 work with non SRM powermeters?

I’m a little fuzzy on the details but, if my memory serves, SRM powermeters transmit a different signal than other powermeters, in that they send a torque number that the PC8 combines with the pedal cadence to determine and display the power output. Have I got that right?

And I also believe that other powermeters like Stages and Shimano transmit actual power numbers with the torque and cadence used within the powermeter to determine the power number that is then transmitted for a head unit to pick up - do I have that right?

So I am wondering how the PC8 treats third party powermeters to display the correct power.

And SRM powermeters require that a slope be entered into the PC8 to properly calculate the power from the torque and date numbers the SRM PM transmits. Does that not need to be done with 3rd party powermeters because that slope input is already baked into the power number those powermeters transmit to the head unit?

When using a non-SRM powermeter, does the PC8 know to just look for a transmitted power number and report that?

I am thinking of a new PM and I’m looking at the SRM Origin in addition to the Shimano DA 9200 and the new Stages LR 9200 powermeters. I know the Origin will be rock solid and will be dead simple to use but I’d like to stick with a native Shimano crankset to maximize the shifting and minimize any issues with chain line and such. I’ve been using SRM PMs based around the Shimano 7800 crankset (7800, 7900 and the DA9000 model I have now - all based on that 7800 crankset) for almost 20 years and the cranks have been bomb proof. I don’t know if I want to get into anything other than Shimano on that front.

Also, I don’t want to give up my PC8. It’s dead simple and it’s super reliable and it does everything that I want.

Thanks in advance for any answers.

I have a pc8, and it works fine with any ant+ power meter. I used it with rotor 3d+ and inspider. But, I never use it anymore and prefer my Garmin 1080+. One particularly odd thing about PC8 is that it can never be shut off… it just wastes battery on standby. In my opinion SRM may have been “the best” when the industry was young, but they sat on their hands and fell way behind everyone else. If you want to buy mine, make an offer, haha.

5

How does the PC8 work with non SRM powermeters?

I’m a little fuzzy on the details but, if my memory serves, SRM powermeters transmit a different signal than other powermeters, in that they send a torque number that the PC8 combines with the pedal cadence to determine and display the power output. Have I got that right?

And I also believe that other powermeters like Stages and Shimano transmit actual power numbers with the torque and cadence used within the powermeter to determine the power number that is then transmitted for a head unit to pick up - do I have that right?

So I am wondering how the PC8 treats third party powermeters to display the correct power.

And SRM powermeters require that a slope be entered into the PC8 to properly calculate the power from the torque and date numbers the SRM PM transmits. Does that not need to be done with 3rd party powermeters because that slope input is already baked into the power number those powermeters transmit to the head unit?

When using a non-SRM powermeter, does the PC8 know to just look for a transmitted power number and report that?

I am thinking of a new PM and I’m looking at the SRM Origin in addition to the Shimano DA 9200 and the new Stages LR 9200 powermeters. I know the Origin will be rock solid and will be dead simple to use but I’d like to stick with a native Shimano crankset to maximize the shifting and minimize any issues with chain line and such. I’ve been using SRM PMs based around the Shimano 7800 crankset (7800, 7900 and the DA9000 model I have now - all based on that 7800 crankset) for almost 20 years and the cranks have been bomb proof. I don’t know if I want to get into anything other than Shimano on that front.

Also, I don’t want to give up my PC8. It’s dead simple and it’s super reliable and it does everything that I want.

Thanks in advance for any answers.

I have a pc8, and it works fine with any ant+ power meter. I used it with rotor 3d+ and inspider. But, I never use it anymore and prefer my Garmin 1080+. One particularly odd thing about PC8 is that it can never be shut off… it just wastes battery on standby. In my opinion SRM may have been “the best” when the industry was young, but they sat on their hands and fell way behind everyone else. If you want to buy mine, make an offer, haha.

I’m going to stick with my PC8. Some of the Garmins look like IPads sitting out in front of the bars and whenever I see on bike footage, they seem to bounce around like crazy. That would annoy me to no end.

What color is your PC8?

6

Now that the original question has been answered, don’t do the Shimano power meter. Shane Miller reviewed the R9200P and gave it a thumbs down. He reviewed the Stages and gave that a thumbs up.

7

Now that the original question has been answered, don’t do the Shimano power meter. Shane Miller reviewed the R9200P and gave it a thumbs down. He reviewed the Stages and gave that a thumbs up.

I think Stages will be the one. I’d love to stick with a native Shimano crankset. The SRM Origin looks nice but I’m not sure I want carbon crank arms and the ETA for the aluminum crank arms is unknown.

Thanks for all the replies, folks.